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LEWIS S. HAYES, OF CORTLAND, NEW YORK.

WOOD ORNAMENTATION.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 312,849, dated February 24, 1885.

(Specimens) To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LEWIS S. HAYES, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cortland, in the county of Cortland and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods of Ornamenting Wood, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in the ornamentation of wood surfaces employed in the decoration of interiors,or the construe tion of articles of furniture and the like, and wherever generally it is desired to produce by means of fanciful and arbitrary designs upon a wood background an artistic effect pleasing to the eye.

Vith this end in view my invention consists in a novel method, as hereinafter described, whereby the wood surface,having first imparted to it a color contrasting with the natural color of the underlying stock, is carved, by suitable engraving-tools, in the hands of the skilled operator, in such manner that the design shall. appear in intaglio below such colored surface, and of the natural appearance of the stock.

My invention is principally intended to be applied where the surface to be decorated is prepared in imitation of some of the darker and costlier varieties of woods, the main body consisting of one of the inferior grades of lighter and less expensive kind. It will be obvious, however, that it can be extended in practice where the contrasting surface is produced for other purposes than mere imitation, it being merely essential for the purposes of my invention that the surface and main body underlying the same should be component parts of the same stock.

In carrying my invention into operation I take stock of one of the light varieties of wood and, preferably by staining, impart to its exterior surface a darker color, selected in ac cordance with the particular eifect desired. The depth of the staining I restrict as far as possible within as narrow limits as are con sistent with the production of a uniform and decided color, in order that the subsequent carving need not penetrate the stock too deep ly, forming dust-cavities,-and increasing the engravers work. Upon and through the prepared surface I now carve the selected design, carrying the engraving-tool down until it completely penetrates the surface and meets the subj acent lighter-colored main body. The general effect produced is that of a dark surface, through which the ornamentation appears in contrasting lighter colors, defined sharply and clearly by the former. The whole is then finished and prepared for the trade in any of the well known manners, but preferably by imparting to the stained and carved surface a thin coating of varnish or shellac.

Having thus described myinvention, whatI claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s-

The process ofornamenting wood, which consists in imparting directly to its surface a color contrasting with that of the main body thereof, and carving through said surface and upon the underlying stock the desired ornamentation, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

LEWIS S. HAYES. Witnesses:

EDGAR T. GADDES, JAS. P. RYoN. 

